Some interesting things I noted from the lecture:

- Currency was originally tied to/backed by tangible resources of nature. For example, a gold coin represented a bag of wheat or a jar of honey. Today, the US currency is backed by – not gold – but by the Federal Reserve, which is funded by wealthy families like the Rockefeller’s and Rothschilds. Every dollar printed by the Federal Reserve is paying interest to the lenders of the this centralized private bank called the Federal Reserve, so the printed currency is really debt money that isn’t backed by anything other than more debt.

Crazy huh? I used to think US currency was backed by gold but it’s not. Money used to represent a tangible asset, now it just represents a crazy financial system we’ve bought into wherein rich people are getting richer off the interest we pay them to buy things we really couldn’t afford in the first place – and from a psychological stand point, we work hard for this money because we’ve been brought up in a system where we believe more money will buy more happiness. This isn’t true, which brings me to the next point.

- There are social and psychological studies that show that after a certain income is achieved ($75k ~ $130k depending on where in the US you live), gaining more income past those numbers do not add more to the level or amount of happiness a person feels in their personal lives.

- Dr. Kipnis did a documentary about women in the untouchable caste in India who broke past the bonds of poverty and the ever-greedy financial system by creating a pool of resources amongst themselves to start up a micro-economy. By collaborating and working together, they were able to come up with resources which grew into a big enough business that they were able to buy back land that their families had lived on for hundreds of years.

The point of this micro economy was that by pulling resources amongst collaborating individuals, they were able to come up with assets that did not demand payment of interest.  Their resources did not come from a greedy lender, unlike the situation many of us find ourselves in today.

There was also a point made from this story that creating win-win situations between individuals and communities that collaborate to help each other is one of the keys to financial freedom and happiness. I would derive further that the financial collapse our country faces today were driven by concepts like “keeping up with the Jones’ ” orthat greater material wealth = happiness, which are both polar opposites of collaborating communities.

- The concept of local currencies is very much active and alive in our country and many other places in the world. Local currency is free from the debt of a nation’s centralized banking system wherein the currency actually represents a tangible product or service contributed by those who have bought into that system, and demands no interest payment from it’s participants. A perfect example which came to mind was Japan’s Fureai Kippu, which I had not heard of until I saw an awesome Sundance film last year The Flaw.

All in all, the message I derived from this lecture was that no amount of money can fill an empty self, and it’s time we realize that as individuals and as a nation because we have for so long bought into the idea that more (money) is better. I might even call it Capitalism. Some worship it as God, but I think it’s a system, although with good potential, is also a system too easy for greedy souls to manipulate for their own good and not the good of others or the masses.

A question was brought up on what specific things we could do to start fixing this system. First is stop buying and spending so much. The plastic credit card, which represents more than anything ‘imaginary money,’ and I’d even say bondage to the system, encourages us to buy more spend more. Try to use more cash and spend less. There are studies that show that people spend 60% less when they are paying for things with cash.

Support local businesses, local economy because then we’re spending less on shipping things from far away which costs a lot and is harmful to the environment as well. Maybe this collaboration could even eventually lead to local currency.

Lots of food for thought.

Jung Society of Utah, definitely worth checking out!!!
It’s every 1st Thursday of the Month

http://www.jungutah.com/

Luckily
Ho Wonderful it would
be if could actually meet
in our dreams.
My Love fortune is on the rise!

I must say I love this cardigan – the color is awesome, the bear on the back is cute, and really, it has a very positive message. MY LOVE FORTUNE IS ON THE RISE!!!

My awesome friend Peter constantly introduces me to mixtapes that keep me moving and grooving. This time it is Keep Their Heads Ringin’ by Telephoned that can be downloaded for free on a post in Fool’s Gold Blog.

Vocalist Maggie sings covers with her amazingly versatile voice backed by Sammy Bananas’ neo-retro beats reminiscent of 90′s R&B. Very fitting for the vintage-hipster culture that is all the rage today.

Can’t get enough of the first few songs like ‘Night By Night’ and ‘Too Experienced.’

There is something immeasurably awkward yet retro-fabulous about this youtube!!!

Do I dare contend with City Weekly’s Ted’s Top 100 Restaurant Guide that was featured this week? Absolutely YES. Why? Because out of the 100 restaurants Ted listed, I had been to 42 – and he did not list all the restaurants I had visited – so I think I know what I’m talking about

First of all, the list is not terrible. He certainly gave credit where deserved. However, I got the impression, as I thumbed through the pages, that Ted’s big attempt in this year’s guide was to include a wider range of restaurants geographically (Park City, Logan, Ogden, Provo) rather than compiling an accurate list of truly exceptional and unique restaurants (somewhat reminiscent of the Academy Awards). I felt that in that attempt he failed to give credit to other more deserved Salt Lake City restaurants, and also displayed a lack of knowledge for restaurants in other cities if they were not located in fancy Park City.

Ted certainly gave himself an escape by adding a disclaimer at the beginning of his guide explaining that the guide was not perfect, and that he had not even been to half of the restaurants listed on city weekley’s website.

I thought it was a cop-out and rather mundane of a list. Sure, he gave Forage a #1, and listed Tin Angel, Finn’s, Eva, Copper Onion, Pizzaria 712, Freida Bistro, etc. – all my favorite places, but does the guy only eat steak and noodles? Also does he not dine West of I-15?

Cafe Trio and Sapa in highlighted boxes though? Really? Cafe Trio is tasty but just barely a step above Olive Garden in my opinion and Sapa should not even have a sushi bar – I’m sorry, I met the owners and they were really nice but the food I felt were sub-par. Furthermore why were all these Ski resort and national chain restaurants like Ruth’s Chris (that all serve the same steak and seafood menu in varying rendition) on the list but not small locally-owned restaurants like Cafe Niche and Les Madeleines that support use of organic/locally-grown produce and entertain a higher quality menu?

Here are some restaurants I think the Restaurant Guide missed – and therefore was a more of a Restaurant Flop.

• Cafe Niche – as stated in two other previous blogs, Cafe Niche astounds me with every visit. Quiche to die for.
• Les Madeleines – as stated in other blog, probably the best lunch you will have in town.
• Myung Ga – the best Korean restaurant in town that makes Sundubu with tofu made fresh everyday.
• Park Cafe – they should be on the list just for their Chili. They deserve the best Chili in the State Award.
• Tastey Thai – hands down the best Thai food in salt lake. Their papaya salad is always so fresh, and their soups/curries are light and not overly flavored or too thick like may Thai restaurants tend to become to adjust to the American palette.
• Bohemian Brewery – the Czech brewery that is holding down the fort in Sandy with the most delicious Sunday brunch!
• Foundry Grill – the most important trip you will ever make down to Utah County. Their food deserves 6 stars on a 5 star scale.
• Epic Casual Dining – also holding down the fort in Sandy. If you ever get to try their seasonal veggies grown in their own garden, you will probably turn vegetarian.
• Pho Hoa – How can one live without eating real Pho??
• Windy Ridge – their soups served in metal pots straight from the stove are a necessity in the winter.
• Sam Hawk – the other Korean restaurant that makes the best Bibimpop in a strip mall next to a coin laundry in Provo. My parents from Japan (who are extremely hard to please with food) will eat there.

These are just to name a few. I think John Saltas needs to refer all City Weekly readers to this guy – Gastronomicslc.com – OR CALL ME! for real food reviews!!

I must admit this video made me cringe a little since I grew up riding trains everyday to and from school and other places in Japan, and it was considered extremely rude to have even your cell phone ringtone on.

However, not only are these guys really good, but what amazed me most is their mastery of the iPhone instruments. I guess if you’re good at something, you’re good at it regardless of the tools you use.

I have always been utterly in love with Kings of Convenience (and generally all the amazing music Erlend Øye produces as either DJ Kicks or The Whitest Boy Alive).

The Norwegian duo writes EXACTLY the kind of music my dad and I listened to growing up – a blend of relaxed acoustic tunes reminiscent of Bossa Nova, Hawaiian island music, Simon & Garfunkel – all so chillaxed and beautiful.

I bought their latest album Declaration of Dependence, and feel like I just got injected with muscle relaxant. It is soooooooo dreamy!!!!!

Sigh………..

Camille also found this fabulously nerdy youtube. Thanks for always keeping me updated on wondrous things found on the Internet!!!!

Today I found SenseOfFasion.com. It’s a website for Indie designers. Look how incredibly fabulous these items are!!!

Crazy awesome rings made by Lisovsky Jewellery!!

DREAMYYYYY!!!!!! City Ring by Lisovsky

Megapolis Ring - $270

All Party'd Out Ring - I WANT THIS!!!! - $270

One of a Kind Ring Silver by Miramory - $260

Mirlo Fox Earrings Crystalized by Lizdragonfly - $38

Schizophrenic Crossover (Green) Shoes by HeavyMachineShoes - $299

Robot's Fin by HeavyMachineShoes - $319

Tadao's Malachite by HeavyMachineShoes - $319

Retro Story by HeavyMachineShoes - $239

I recently decided to give Winder Farms a try. I got an awesome deal for signing up for Winder Farms on Salt Lake City Groupon and thought I would only do it once but now I am a weekly devout!!!

Winder Farms lets you order groceries (which are mostly local / organic produce) online, and delivers them to your door once a week before 8 am. It is absolutely the most fantastic thing I have ever come across! I typically only go to the grocery store once a week, and this not only allows me to cut down on driving, gas and time, but also allows me to budget and plan my week’s groceries.

Their product selection is outrageously awesome too. They have fresh produced from local farms, milk in glass bottles that is recycled every week, gourmet granola and pesto sauces made locally (I actually tried both items at the Farmer’s Market during the summer and were totally hooked! ) I LOVE WINDER FARMS!!!!!!!!! Every Tuesday is like Christmas morning!!!

This week I ordered the Local Farm Fresh Prodcue box for $15!

They package all their items so beautifully!!!

I made the most delicious squash soup with that big squash

Inside - Molasses Wheat Bread, Swiss Cheese, Black Forest Ham, Pesto, Milk and Granola. All brought from local producers!

Peppers and Fuji apples - soooo awesome!!!